A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

I confess that while I found A Gentleman in Moscow to be beautifully written, its charms strike me as shallow as our central character, (former) Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov. Positive reviews of the book stress the gentility, the manners, and the appeal that such a 'gentleman’ can survive amidst the boorish barbarism of the Soviet Union. I was more struck by his laziness and immense sense of entitlement.

In that regard, the luxurious life of the Count makes an excellent case for revolution.

In this fashion, I found using an omniscient narrative device frustrating rather than charming. I found the seriousness to the frivolity of Rostov annoying and may well have equally been turned to the life of servants, serfs and the rest of the country. Still, the purpose of these background characters is little more than providing Alexander Ilyich with another scrap of witty repartee (and to fetch his boots).

Perhaps I’m too caught up in my own class consciousness to find affinity with the verbal excess, mock-epic digressions, colourful hijinks and the cast of lively characters sent in to tickle my fancy.

I was quite happy to leave this particular suave dinner companion behind by the novel's end.

⭐ ⭐ ½